To say the El Paso-Gridley Titans have a tall task ahead of them would be an understatement. EPG will be taking a Byron team with two 6-footers at the Class 2A Monmouth Supersectional Monday night at Glennie Gymnasium on the campus of Monmouth College.

Byron (31-2 and ranked sixth) will bring 6-foot-3 senior Sophie Reecher, who will play college ball at Toledo, and 6-1 Ellie Lehne to the game in an effort to overpower the shorter Titans.

It should be a flowing style with a lot of running. Both teams like to push the ball and stamina will be key as the teams take to the college length floor.

“They do play an up-tempo game and the big girls in the flow of it,” EPG head coach Kyle Bobbitt said of the Tigers.

He added, “They have guards who will step out and hit shots if you pay too much attention to the big girls.”

An added issue facing the Titans (28-1) will be dealing with the perimeter attack of the Tigers. Mayson Whipple is the top guard and a definite 3-point threat, as Byron likes to run an inside-out attack. Reecher is a top assist leader for the sixth-ranked team.

Byron’s defense is also aggressive. It can afford to be with a 6-3 and a 6-1 player supporting the back end of the press. Bobbitt is aware of the problems the Tigers pose on the guards.

Rebekah Ehresman will have her hands full, but so will Jenna Souhrada and Codee Schlipf when it comes to helping break the press.

As has happened most of the time this year, defense will be the key for EPG, who were ranked fifth in the final AP poll.

“We have to play our game, stick to our style,” Bobbitt said. “We like our defense to create our offense.”

The defense will play a part in keeping the Tigers in check in the half court, as well.

“We’re not very big, so we’re going to have to allow one shot and one shot only,” Bobbitt said. “From the offensive standpoint, we have to have everyone take their opportunity to knock down a shot.”

Ehresman leads the Titans in scoring with a 16.6 average and is tied with Schlipf as the top rebounder with a 5.7 boards per game average. Schlipf is scoring at 11.1 points a clip while Chelsea Kessinger is averaging 7.9 points and Souhrada is at 7.1 points.

Page 2 of 2 - The winner of the Monmouth Supersectional will face the Springfield Super winner — St. Thomas More or Litchfield — in the second semifinal game at Redbird Arena next Friday night.